Esther 4:8–5:8
Go to the king.” Queen Esther read Mordecai’s message. “Plead with him to save your people.”
Esther returned a message: “No one can go to the king’s rooms without an invitation, or they’ll die.”
Mordecai told Esther: “You’ll be killed like all the other Jews. You may be silent, Esther, but God will rescue us another way. Who knows? Maybe you’ve become queen for just this time.”
“Go then, Mordecai,” wrote Esther. “Gather the Jews in Shushan. Pray for me three days. I’ll do the same. Then I’ll go into the king. If I die, I die.”
Esther, dressed in her royal robes, stood in the king’s court. The king, seeing her, held out the royal staff. This was his invitation. “What do you wish, Queen Esther? I’ll give you anything.”
“I’ve come to ask the king and Haman to dinner.”
“Send word,” he commanded. “Today Haman dines with the king and queen.”
The three ate together. “What do you wish, Esther?” the king asked.
“Please, both of you, dine with me tomorrow. Then I’ll tell you my desire.”
Questions: What did Mordecai say would happen if Esther didn’t help the Jews? What did Esther want Haman and the Jews to do for her?